The Portugal international has found it difficult to get regular first-team action at United, starting only five Premier League games under new manager David Moyes.

Nani signed a new contract with the reigning Premier League champions until June 2018 last summer but United are ready to offload the winger as he is deemed surplus to requirements, although they would prefer a straight transfer over a temporary deal.

The Portuguese had previously caught the attention of Juventus but the Turin giants eventually pulled out of the race to secure his services as they were unwilling to match the player's salary demands. Nani is currently on €96,000-a-week (£80k) at United.

Meanwhile, Inter have also stepped up their interest in Lazio midfielder Hernanes as club president Erick Thohir aims to further reinvigorate the Nerazzurri.

Thohir sees the Brazilian midfielder as one of the new leaders of Inter, with experienced players such as Esteban Cambiasso and Walter Samuel set to leave at the end of the season, and he is keen to lure Hernanes to the Giuseppe Meazza this winter.

Inter are willing to pay €13 million (£10.7m) for the 28-year-old, while also including young defender Ibrahima Mbaye in the deal, who is valued at €5m (£4.1m).

Hernanes could sign a three-and-a-half-year deal at Inter worth €2.4m (£2m) in his first season, eventually rising to €3.2m (£2.6m) in his final season.